My travel diary continues… After Thailand, the second country on my solo backpacking trip was Vietnam. I spent four weeks travelling the exotic land of thousands motorcycles, warm people and nón lá hats, from north to south. Here is my complete Vietnam itinerary!
If you asked me what my favourite place in Vietnam was, I couldn’t tell you. I have so many! If, however, you ask about my favourite town, it can only be Hoi An! Its historical buildings, colourful lanterns it is so notoriously known for, its people, the food… Actually, have a look yourself: the pictures will tell it better. Here are my best photos of Hoi An.
Clear emerald waters and never ending sceneries of limestone islands, that’s Ha Long Bay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Unfortunately, also a place becoming so crowded and popular it almost seems impossible to find a decent boat tour. Is it even possible to still enjoy Ha Long Bay without crowds of people, tourist scams and spending a fortune? The answer is yes. Let me tell you how I did it.
Vietnam. By far the most exciting country I have ever had the pleasure of exploring. It has so much to offer – breathtaking nature, buzzing cities, beautiful buildings, delicious food, lovely people, heartbreaking history… Everything about it is unique. Here are a few of my observations and things you should know before travelling to Vietnam.
Backpacking solo can seem daunting at first. Everything about this way of travelling was new to me until recently. It has its ups and downs but now about six weeks in, I can say I am used to it all. If you have never backpacked before, read on for some backpacking wisdom. This is what I learnt in my first month of backpacking:
When you are going to Thailand, you probably want to see some elephants. It makes sense; everyone seems to be going on about how it was the best experience they had on their trip. It’s true, nothing beats meeting these animals up close, but beware: the elephant tourism is big in Thailand and it’s not always right.
My blog isn’t much of a diary so far (I have my paper notepad for that after all) but I am going to write a short summary article from every country I visit to give you an idea where I went, what I saw and did. My time in Thailand has come to an end, so let’s have a look at my Thailand itinerary!
Bangkok is one crazy city, which – I have to admit – wasn’t very high on my bucket list. However, it is a major transport hub in Southeast Asia so you kind of have to pass through there at some point. I have actually liked the city more than I expected so I have decided to share a few things you shouldn’t miss if you decide to spend a few days in Bangkok.
Wondering how it really feels to leave your comfort zone? I have been very positive about my experience so you might be expecting the answer “amazing”. But actually… no, not at first. You are entering an unknown territory and unless you are a superhuman, you WILL feel a little uncomfortable at first. Don’t worry, though – it doesn’t last.
It has been a week since I arrived in Thailand – a country I have never been to before, on a continent I had never set foot on. What are my first impressions of Southeast Asia? Here are my observations from Thailand (some are only specific to Thailand but most of them should apply to Southeast Asia in general).